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[news 2005
- 2006]
Queen’s
researchers awarded development funding for chronic
pain, bacteriological testing technologies
March 1, 2006
For immediate release
KINGSTON, ON – Two Queen’s University researchers
have been awarded funding from federal commercialization
programs to further develop innovative discoveries in
the fields of chronic pain and pathogen detection in
water systems.
Dr. Cella Olmstead of the Department of Psychology has
received $125,000 from the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research Proof of Principle (PoP)
Program to enhance the pain-relieving effects of
cannabinoid receptor agonists, which are the active
pain relieving agents in cannabis.
Dr. Olmstead’s groundbreaking research has shown
that the efficacy of these cannabinoids is enhanced
when it is combined with ultra-low doses of another
compound that, at higher doses, blocks this pain-relieving
activity. Her research showed that this unusual combination
not only increased pain relief, but also reduced or
eliminated the development of tolerance to the cannabinoid.
The CIHR funding will support further studies into the
effects of this novel combination in the treatment of
chronic pain.
Dr. Stephen Brown of the Department of Chemistry has
received $240,000 over two years from the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s Idea
to Innovation (I2I) Program to further develop a
rapid, fully automated bacteriological detection system.
Based on a novel optical sensory technology developed
by Dr. Brown and his collaborators, the patent-pending
system is exclusively licensed to Pathogen
Detection Systems of Kingston, ON by PARTEQ Innovations,
the technology transfer office of Queen’s University.
The funding will enable the company to expand its bacteria
detection platform to include a broader spectrum of
target organisms in its automated monitoring system.
“These
federal commercialization programs fill an essential
need in the translation of research findings into commercial
products,” says Anne Vivian-Scott, Director of
Commercial Development for PARTEQ. “CIHR’s
Proof of Principle funding will enable Dr. Olmstead
to more fully explore the potential of her surprising
findings into the use of cannabinoids for the treatment
of chronic pain, while NSERC’s I2I funding will
help Pathogen Detection Systems meet its goal of being
first to market with an automated system that supports
microbiological testing anytime, anywhere.”
Contact:
Anne Vivian-Scott
Director, Commercial Development
PARTEQ Innovations
613. 533. 2342
avivianscott@parteqinnovations.com
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